Terry Philips

Terry Philips of West Palm Beach, FL entered into rest on August 31, 2023, at the age of 81. Proud mother of Ellen Hope Philips & Todd Adam Philips and loving sister of Alan Lang. Dear daughter of the late Sidney A. Lang & Anita Drucker Lang and widow of the late Henry F. Philips of Worcester, MA.

Terry grew up in Brookline, MA, graduated high school from Cambridge School of Weston, earned a B.A. in Theater at Skidmore College and a Masters Degree in Education at Antioch University. She and her beloved husband Hank raised their children in Lynnfield, MA.

Terry adored working with troubled teenagers, helping them discover their talents and authentic selves. Anyone who had the good fortune to be her student cherished her for deeply transforming their lives. She taught creative writing and was a counselor at North Shore Community School (T2), was a guidance counselor at Verde Valley School in Sedona, AZ, and later in life taught language arts at Meyer Jewish Academy in West Palm Beach, FL.

Terry was a dedicated member of Temple Beth Shalom in Peabody, MA, and Unity Church in West Palm Beach, FL. Along with Hank, she volunteered for many years at Peabody Temple Youth Group (PEATY) and created Lynnfield High School’s Peers Educating Peers program (P.E.P.), which was featured on the acclaimed PBS series, Frontline.

Terry loved theater and dance, often unwinding at Dance Free in Cambridge, MA in the late 1970’s / early 1980’s. She spearheaded theater productions at nearly all the schools where she worked throughout her life.

Terry cherished her time spent with family, friends & colleagues and was never afraid to speak her mind honestly and without a filter.

A funeral service for Terry will be held on Friday, September 8, 2023, at 10:00 AM in the Temple Beth Shalom Memorial Park at 16 Buxton Rd., Danvers, MA 01923. Brunch Immediately to follow at The Hardcover Restaurant, 15 A Newbury St, Danvers, MA 01923.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in her memory to Dana Farber Cancer Center: https://www.dana-farber.org or Unity of the Palm Beaches: https://unitypalmbeach.com/